Asian Mythology

Kevin Liao

RLST/ASST 104

Asian Mythology

Jessica Birkenholtz

12/13/2013

The Themes of Good and Evil/ Renewal of Life in Hindu Mythology versus Chinese Mythology versus Shinto Mythology

Two main themes that reoccur in Hindu Mythology, Chinese Mythology, and Shinto Mythology are the themes of Good and Evil and the Renewal of Life. From a Hindu perspective, no existence is viewed as good or evil in the absolute sense of the term. It is because everything emerges from one who transcends both "good" and "evil". Similarly, from the Chinese perspective in the principle of Ying and Yang, no particular existence is viewed as "good" or "evil" and that they are relative and not absolute concepts. In the Shinto perspective, "good" and evil is viewed dependent on its impact on human life. The Hindu epic of Ramayana, the Ying and Yang , and the Shinto myths of Amaterasu and Susano-o represent in great detail the concept of "good" and "evil" in these traditions. They stress the importance of the balance of opposites and that "good" and "evil" are relative but not absolute. The theme of Renewal of Life is also explored in these traditions, where the continuous cycle of life and death and recreation of world is demonstrated through the Shinto myth of Izanagi and Izanami, The Hindu myth of Sati, and the operation of Ying and Yang in the myth of Pangu. My thesis is that, together these myths form two common ideologies in all of these traditions. The first ideology explains the concept of "good" and "evil" , which emphasizes that the creation of the universe necessary involves creation of opposite forces. The other ideology explains the concept of the renewal and continuity of creation of life.

The ideology of "good" and "evil" in these traditions are viewed in the same three ways. They are, opposite forces such as light and darkness, man and woman, heaven and earth, life and death, rely on each other for their existence (ESCS 152). They emerge from a common origin...